Brownfields Assistance Center announces financing workshops

October 22, 2010

Friday, October 22, 2010

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Brownfields Assistance Center at Marshall University has announced workshops to be held next month in partnership with the National Development Council, BB&T and the Brownfields Assistance Center at West Virginia University (WVU).

Two one-day “Brownfields Redevelopment: Environmental and Economic Viability” workshops are planned. The first workshop is scheduled for Nov. 16 at the Waterfront Place Hotel in Morgantown. The second workshop will be held Nov. 17 at Tamarack in Beckley.

The workshops are intended for bankers, real estate developers, environmental regulatory entities and economic development groups. The sessions will provide participants with information and resources to help them deal with the unique financial considerations that must be considered when working with brownfields properties.

Brownfields are abandoned or underutilized contaminated land with prospects for business, housing or recreational redevelopment. The Brownfields Assistance Centers at Marshall and WVU were created in 2005 to secure and administer federal brownfields funding and assistance programs, and to provide training and technical assistance, and grant writing, site assessment and remediation services. The West Virginia Brownfields Assistance Center at Marshall University is housed in the Center for Environmental, Geotechnical and Applied Sciences (CEGAS).

Dr. Tony Szwilski, director of CEGAS, said, “Our Brownfields Assistance Center continues to expand outreach efforts and partnerships, and this workshop is another example of our efforts. We are pleased to continue our leadership role in assisting entities across the state with brownfields redevelopment and associated community revitalization.”

Each workshop is limited to a maximum of 50 participants. Sessions will be fast-paced, hands-on events with extensive attendee participation.

Workshop and registration information is available at www.bbttraining.com.